Telegraphing instrument.



C. 0. FERGUSON. TELEGRAPHING INSTRUMENT. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 4, 1911.

Patented June 25, 1912.

ATTORNEYS 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLAND'JRAPH CO,WASHINGTON. u. C.

G. C. FERGUSON. 'TELEGRAPHING INSTRUMENT. 'APPLIOA'I'IOH FILED APR. 4,1911. 1,030,509 Patented June 25, 1912.

3 SHEBTBSHEET 2.

IN VE N701? (Zayiwz dfllywaiz ATTORNEYS WITNESSES 7% &

O. 0. FERGUSON. TELEGRAPHING INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1911.1 030,509, Patented June 25, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES A TTUH/VE Y S PATENT FTCE.

TELEGRAPI-IING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed April 4, 1911. Serial No. 618,800.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTON C. FERGU- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, inthe county and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedTelegraphing Instrument, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:to produce an instrument of the character mentioned which is attachableto a typewriting machine for use in conjunction therewith whereby thetelegraphing instrument is operated in harmony with the typewritingmachine; to produce an instrument of the character mentioned which maybe adapted as an attachment to typewriting machines of usualconstruction; to provide an attachment of the character describedwherein the telegraphing circuit is closed when the use of theinstrument is discontinued; and to provide an instrument of thecharacter depicribed the construction whereof is simpli- One embodimentof the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is alongitudinal vertical section of a typewriting machine and telegraphinginstrument of the character mentioned shown in operative relation; Fig.2 is a plan view of a telegraphing instrument, the type writing machinebeing removed; Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-8 in Fig.4, of the platform of the telegraphing instrument and the sliding headmounted thereon, showing in elevation the rocking member for opening andclosing the line circuit; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section ofthe telegraphing attachment con structed and arranged in accordance withthe present invention, showing in connection therewith a telegraphicsounder and typewriting machine key bar in operative position; and Fig.5 is a detail view in vertical section showing the plate for mountingthe telegraphing key bars in elevated position.

The typewriting machine shown in the accompanying drawings is providedwith the usual number and arrangement of key bars 9. The key bars 9, asshown, are operatively connected with type blocks 10. The writingmachine is provided with a base flange 11 to be held in grooves providedin the upper end of standards 12, 12 when the said writing machine ismounted upon the telegraphing instrument constructed and arranged inaccordance with the present inventlon.

The electric circuit members for operating the sounder 13 consists, inpart, in a wire 14, main 15, binding post 16, plate 17, carriage 18 andcontact spring 19, which constitute the members on what may be termedthe main line side of the circuit. The spring 19 is employed to make andbreak the circuit by contacting with the plug of a binding post 20,which is incorporated in what may be termed the ground side of thecircuit in which is incorporated the telegraphing machine. The groundside of the circuit consists in the binding post 20, which includes theadjusting plug thereof, a bridging wire 21, stud shaft 22, roller 23,arm 24, pin 25, hinge wing 26 and ground wire 27.

In the ordinary course of operation of the present telegraphing machinethe operating circuit for the sounder 13 is closed when the spring 19 isbrought into contact with the binding post 20, and broken when the saidspring is removed from contact with the said post. To effect thisoperation of the spring 19 there is provided a rocker bar 28, which ispivotally mounted on a carriage supported on a platform 29 by a wheel30. A supporting arm 31 is provided 'to permit the rocker bar 28 to beremoved from its bearings, the arm 31 yielding to remove the bearingprovided therein from the endof the said bar. The bar 28 has rigidlysecured thereto a lever 32, the end 33 whereof is looped to encircle theend of the spring 19, as seen best in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In thenormal position of the spring 19 it is depressed toward the plate 18away from the post 20. The spring 19, therefore. rocks the bar 28 sothat the upper edge thereof is maintained in substantially verticaldisposition. The bar 28 is curled at the ends 34, 34: to form rests andthreading portions for the string 35. In the present instance the string35 is constructed from catgut. and is fixedly secured by being threadedthrough a channel formed in the ends 34, 34; and hooked over securingplates 36, 36. The

plates 36 are of any suitable and usual construction. The string 35 isby this arrangement adapted to be easily and readily replaced.

To rock the bar 28 there are provided the key bars 37, 37. The bars 37,37 are each provided with a series of cam-shaped members 38,38. Themembers 38, 38. are extended from the under side of the bars 37 when thesaid bars are placed in operative position, in which posit-ion of thebars the cam members 38 extend below the normal Y level of the string35, as seen best in Fig. 4

of the drawings. The key bars 37 are shaped substantially as shown insaid F 1g.

4, and are mounted upon a plate 39. The

plate 39 is disposed transverse the plat-form 29, and is hinged upon thesaid platform by means of the hinge wings 26 and 40. The attachment ofthe bars 37 to the plate 39 is by means of folded clip ends 41, the saidclip ends being adapted for extension over the plate 39 to hold the samein gripping relation. Between the clips 41 and the rigid portions of thebars 37, the said bars are provided with a spring portion 42, whichyielding, permits the retention of the bars 37 on a rest bar 43 when anyone of the said bars 37 is depressed and held by the key bars 9 of thetypewriting machine.

Normally the key bars 37, 37 rest at their forward ends upon the restbar 43. In this position the carriage 18 is pushed rearwardly on theplatform 29, and in position where the stud shaft 22 and roller 23 arein line with the upturned section 44 of the arm 24. The disposition ofthe roller 23 is such that when the carriage 18 is drawn toward thefront of the platform 29 the roller rides from under the raised portion44 of the arm 24 and under the forward and depressed portion of the saidarm, lifting the said forward portion and with it the forward edge ofthe plate 39 to which the arm 24 is rigidly connected, as seen best inFig. 2 of the drawings. Rocking the plate 39 in this manner lifts eachof the key bars 37, 37 unless the same is held in its d'epressedposition to rest on the bar 43 by one of the key bars 9 of thetypewriting machine. It is in this position that the cam members 38formed on the key bar 37 which is thus held by the key bar 9 impingesupon the string 35, forcing the same backward;

thereby rocking the bar 28 and lifting the lever 32 connected therewith.The lift of the lever 32 operates to lift the spring 19 into contactwith the post 20, closing the electric circuit which operates by thesounder 13.

Each of the key bars 37 is provided with short and long cams 38 disposedto effect on each key bar a separate arrangement designed to producetelegraphically one letter of the Morse telegraphic alphabet. The keybars 37 are disposed on the plate 39 with reference to the key bars 9 ofthe typewriting machine. Each of the bars 37 is provided at the forwardend with a foot 45 upon which the corresponding key bar 9 of thetypewriting machine rests when depressed to operate the type block 10 towhich it is connected. In the selection of the key bars it will beunderstood that the elevated arrangement of the said key barscorresponds with the elevated arrangement of the key bars 9 of thetypewriting machine, so that the key bar 37 held in depressed positionby the key bar 9 of the typewriting machine is provided with the camsurfaces 38, 38 shaped to produce short and long dashes and intervalscorrespond ing with the Morse telegraphic alphabet identified with thetypewriting character of the key bar 9 which is depressed.

In the operation of the telegraphing instrument herein described it willbe understood that after each of the key bars 9 of the typewritingmachine is depressed the carriage 18 is drawn forward to the rest bar43, the string 35 riding under each of the cam surfaces 38 to lift thespring 19 to contact with the post 20 as the carriage is so moved. Asthe key bar 9 is released the spring portion 42 thereof lifts the camsfrom the path of the string 35 when the said carriage 18 is retracted.It will be noticed, however, that due to the resiliency of the string 35if the key bar 9 should be accidentally returned in its depressed p'osition the string will pass under the cam surfaces without lifting thespring 19, the rocking direction of the bar being the reverse of that bywhich the lever 32 is lifted. To aid in the operation of the carriage'18 I have provided a side plate 46. Upon the plate 46 may be mountedany suitable device for advancing and retracting the car riage- 18, handor otherwise operated.

The bars 37, 37 are normally maintained in their depressed position by aspring rod 47 upon which tracks a roller 48. The roller 48 is rigidlymounted on a bracket 49, the bracket 49 being rigidly mounted on theplate 39. normal position the roller 48 is extended to the side of'thehinge pins of the hinges 26 and 40 removed from the body of the bars 37.The lift of the spring 47 upon the said roller 48 therefore tends todepress the opposite edge of the plate 39 and the bars 37 connectedtherewith. When desired, the plate 39 is rotated into position as shownin Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein the plate 39 is held in substantiallyvertical disposition. It is in this arrangement of the plate 39 that thebars 37 are mounted thereon.

The operation whereby the plate 39 is rocked to depress the forward endsof the bars 37 also operates to depress the for- It will be observedthat in its ward end of the arm 24, causing the same to contact with theplate 17 This is the position of the parts under normal conditions whenthe carriage 18 is retracted. It is in this position that the current inwhich is incorporated the sounder 13 is closed as far as this instrumentis concerned whereby the sounder may be operated on the line. It will benoted that the arm 24 making contact with the plate 17 operated to cutout the spring 19 and post 20, the circuit passing through the said arm24 direct to the hinge 26 through the pin 25 and thence by way of thewire 27 to the ground.

Theoperation of the instrument is as follows: The typewriting machine isplaced on the standards 12, 12. The key bars 37, 37 are adjusted withreference to the key bars 9 of the typewriting machine to register thesaid key bars of the typewriting machine and telegraphing instrumentwith reference to the alphabetical character which they represent. Thishaving been efl'ected the operator of the typewriting machine depressesa key to print on the paper carried by the machine a certain character.The key bar 9 effecting this character is depressed upon the foot 45 ofthe key bar 37 directly beneath, holding the same upon the rest bar 43.Immediately the carriage 18 is moved forward to the rest bar 43, thevariously shaped and spaced cam surfaces 38, 38 operate to rock the bar28 to thereby lift the spring 19 into contact with the post 20 to causeintermittent short and long dots and dashes and intervals disposedbetween the same, in conformity with the Morse telegraphic alphabeticalsymbols. During the sending of a message, when each key bar 9 isreleased, the carriage 18 is retracted to a position on the table 29beyond the field of the cams 88, but forward of the upturned section 44of the arm 24, and thus supports in raised posit-ion the end of the saidarm. From this position the carriage is again moved forward as soon asthe next succeeding key bar 9 is depressed. Throughout the sending ofthe message it will be noted that the arm 24 is held out of contact withthe plate 17. lVhen the sending of the message has been completed thecarriage is further retracted to place the supporting roller 23 underthe upturned section 44 of the arm 24. The clearance afforded by theupturned section 44 permits the arm 24 to settle on Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the the plate17 to complete the relay or closed circuit of the instrument.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent is 1. In a telegraphing instrument, thecombination with a typewriting machine having depressible key bars, of aplurality of auxiliary key bars disposed beneath said depressible keybars to be depressed thereby, each of said auxiliary key bars havingprojections formed thereon and disposed concordantly with the electrictelegraphic alphabet; and an electric circuit making mechanism extendingacross said auxiliary key bars and movable lengthwise thereunder to berocked by said projections when said auxiliary key bars are depressed.

2. In a telegraphing instrument, the combination with a typewritingmachine having depressible key bars, of a plurality of auxiliary keybars disposed beneath said depressible key bars to be depressed thereby,each of said auxiliary key bars having projections formed thereon anddisposed concordantly with the electric telegraphic alphabet; anelectric circuit making mechanism extending across said auxiliary keybars and movable lengthwise thereunder to be rocked by said projectionswhen said auxiliary key bars are depressed; and a supporting base forsaid auxiliary key bars, said base providing supports for holding thetypewriting machine and the key bars thereof in register with saidauxiliary key bars.

3. A telegraphing instrument, comprising a platform having a pluralityof electric circuit terminals; a pivoted member to normally connect saidterminals; a reciprocating carriage movable under said pivoted member todiscontinue the engagement of said member with one of said terminals; arocking mechanism mounted on said can riage for completing a telegraphcircuit; and a series of selective keys each individually formed to rocksaid rocking mechanism when said carriage is reciprocated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nam'e'to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAYTON C. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

E. F. MURDOCK, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

